Devils notes: Jon Merrill returns

Rookie defenseman Jon Merrill returned to the Devils’ lineup after missing three games because of injuries he sustained from being struck in the right side of the face with a deflected shot eight days ago against the Islanders. Merrill wore a full cage on his helmet to protect his face, but said he had no trouble adjusting.

"It was fine," he said. "I practiced with it a few times so it was fine."

Coach Pete DeBoer said he did not hesitate to put Merrill back in for such a big game.

"He’s been that good this year that my only hesitation was whether we were going to put him in a tough spot," DeBoer said. "But after I watched him practice the other day I think we were all pretty confident he could help."

Ruutu’s return

Playing in his first game in Carolina since being traded to the Devils on March 5, former Hurricane Tuomo Ruutu picked up an assist on Travis Zajac’s game-winner to extend his points streak to four games (two goals, two assists).

"Obviously, it was special to come here, but it was such a big game that I just went out there and thought about the win," Ruutu said. "In a different situation, maybe earlier in the season, it’s a little bit different. It was such a big game for us I just tried to be in a zone and not think about it too much."

Happy Hurricane

Center Andrei Loktionov, who went to Carolina in the trade for Ruutu, is enjoying playing for the Hurricanes. After not registering a point in his first six games after the trade, Loktionov, 23, has three goals and five assists over the last 10 games. He had just four goals and eight assist in 48 games with the Devils.